TopLaxRecruits.com Boys’ Rankings: Ward Melville moves to No. 2 spot

St. Ignatius Prep (CA) embraced its opportunity to play in the national spotlight.

The Wildcats – the top-ranked team from the West in every national poll – came East last week to play then-No. 2 Chaminade (N.Y.) and New Jersey’s Seton Hall Prep in a high school prelim at the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

St. Ignatius Prep took Chaminade to the limit, before losing, 5-4, in a thriller with all eyes watching. Then it won in overtime over Seton Hall Prep, 6-5, in another memorable performance on the large stage.

Coupled with a 17-1 start and No. 11 ranking by TopLaxRecruits.com, St. Ignatius has done much to put West Coast lacrosse on a higher level.

“It was a great opportunity,” said St. Ignatius junior goalie Cyrus Scott (Colgate commit), who was brilliant with 34 saves in the two games. “We always wanted to come back East to show people how good we are.

“Obviously the result (vs. Chaminade) was disappointing, but it was a great team effort and one of the most complete games we played all season.”

Scott acknowledged that California teams have been receiving more and more recognition and that many of its players have shown they can compete with the top recruits in the country.

“I think our top players out West are just as good as those on the East Coast,” he said. “But obviously there is more depth in the East. Teams like Chaminade play more top teams than we do.

“It was good for us as a team and for our program to play this competition. We believe in ourselves and to come out East and compete like that was affirmation of how hard we work and how far the West has come. It was the ultimate experience, a memorable experience.”

Scott also praised Chaminade – which then lost to Yorktown on Saturday for its first loss.

“Chaminade is really a class act,” Scot said. “They are a bunch of good guys. The whole thing was pretty sweet.

“Everyone was so ready for the game. We never felt any pressure because we were so focused. And it was great that so many parents flew all the way out to watch and support us.”